Japanese Children’s Art Delights

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31082, 10 June 1966, Page 2

Japanese Children’s Art Delights

A journey into the delightful world of Japanese children is being offered at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery this month.

The occasion is an exhibition of Japanese children’s art, the 100 exhibits having been chosen from the work of 7255 children who entered a competition sponsored in Japan by the Meat Board. All the children were 11 or 12.

A fascinating feature of the exhibition is the preponderance of pastel colours and unusual combinations of pale browns, yellows and greens, although occasional use is made of luxuriant greens and blues. The intricacy of detail work, such as lines, machinery and leaves, is also noteworthy. The subjects chosen embrace a wide field. Machinery, factories, and industry are very much in evidence. Other popular themes are harbours and ships, village scenes, family portraits, and occupations such as farming, mill work, bicycle shops and horse racing. An Interesting feature is

the status sometimes given to human beings. In a painting of a locomotive shed, the details of a locomotive are strikingly accurate. Less care is taken with the people in attendance, as if they were not of importance. Children’s interpretations of fables and fairy tales have resulted in a number of touching paintings, some achieving, through their simplicity and honesty, an intense charm. Also of note is a painting entitled “Landscape” which appears to be satirical; it portrays man’s desecration of the countryside with power pylons, smoking factory chimneys and smog-laden air. From the entries submitted in the competition, a panel of judges in Tokyo selected 100 finalists, 40 of whom received gold medals and 60 silver medals. From the finalists, four children, two boys and two girls, were chosen as ‘“Mut-ton-Chan” (mutton children). These children visited New Zealand as guests of the Board in March and April. The exhibition will be shown until the end of this month.